July is National Eye Injury Prevention Month, and warehouse and manufacturing workers face the highest risk of any industry. About 2,000 U.S. workers suffer a job-related eye injury every day. The CDC estimates 90 percent are preventable with the right protection.
So why do workers take their safety glasses off?
One word: fogging. In a recent industry survey of workers across manufacturing, construction, service, and retail, every single respondent named fogged-up lenses as a major reason they don't wear their eye protection. More than half said they would comply if their safety eyewear actually had working anti-fog technology.
Eye injuries account for nearly 45 percent of all head injuries that lead to missed workdays, and cost employers an estimated $300 million a year in medical bills, lost productivity, and workers' compensation.
Modern anti-fog coatings and indirect-vent goggle designs have improved significantly. If your current safety glasses fog the moment you walk into a temperature change, check for anti-fog replacements. They are available at a cost range from $25 to $50. Some newer lenses use dual-action coatings that last the life of the glasses.
